Strother Wrath Bow Review

December 05, 2011 By Bowhunting Staff Report

Strother continues to carve out its place in the archery industry. A good product line, upstanding staff and constant drive to hit that next level are all in the company's corner as it bring its newest line of bows to market. Its new 2012 roster includes the Wrath, which blends functionality with simplicity for an all-around bowhunter's bow.

The Wrath is home to a new, unique cable guard, a cam system powered by the DUAL SYNC configuration, a set of past-parallel split limbs, pivoting limb pockets, two-piece laminated wood grip, reflex riser and riser-mounted string suppressor.

KEEPIN' IT REAL

The folks at Strother are all about performance -- plain and simple. The new cam on the Wrath was designed to give the shooter a pleasant experience, while the good arrow speeds just happen to come along with the package. So, what is special about this cam system? Two things in particular make it stand out. First, it operates on what is called the DUAL SYNC system. In the most concise of terms, DUAL SYNC equals a set of cams that are locked together in terms of movement and timing.

The entire rigging (string and cables) is anchored directly to the cams. This forces the cams to work together and self-corrects any issues related to string stretch, timing, mechanical string/cable seating, etc. The second benefit is found in the number of tracks the cams use to control the string and cables -- two. One track harnesses the string, while the other pulls double duty by handling the take up of one cable and the let out of the other. Managing the whole system on two tracks allows Strother to place a majority of the load very close to the center of the axle. This prevents an uneven load on one end, which would dip one limb tip further than the other, contributing to limb twist or cam lean.

Draw lengths are adjustable between 27 and 31 inches, in half-inch increments, through a series of modules. Modules actually contain the track for the two cables, so they do require a bow press to change. A set of draw stops can be adjusted to change the letoff and feel of the valley at the end of the draw cycle. Letoff is adjustable from 70 to 80 percent. The aluminum cams are CNC machined, black anodized and ride on sealed bearings and stainless steel axles.

KEEPIN' IT QUIET

Strother's Wrath has several features and technologies that do their part in reducing kick, vibration and noise at the shot. First and foremost are the fiberglass composite limbs, which reach a beyond parallel position at full draw. Parallel or beyond parallel limbs move in equal and opposite directions as the bow is released, cancelling out much of the unwanted leftover energy. A riser-mounted string suppressor works to eliminate string oscillation with a soft rubber stopper slipped over the end of its aluminum rod.

A mounting fixture allows for adjustment of the suppressor. Strother also adds a set of No-Gloves (an accessory designed to take the place of shooting gloves for fingers shooters) to the string to dampen oscillation and increase speed. A unique cable guard that uses a straight rod and low-friction polymer blend cable guide is designed to increase efficiency. The secondary benefit is the elimination of any noises associated with a moving cable guard system. Rather than move the guard itself, Strother's new fixture includes two slots that angle toward the centerline of the bow and allow the cables to move freely during the draw.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Strother knows bowhunters and takes care of the little details that matter -- all attached hardware is black oxide coated stainless steel. That means there is no shiny gold or silver metal and no rust. This includes the mounting inserts for the stabilizer and suppressor attachments. A highly polished, laminated, wooden grip uses two contoured side plates to repeatedly position the shooter's hand for a consistent shot. The grip creates a neutral wrist position. Lightweight aluminum limb pockets are machined to exacting tolerances and are designed to pivot during the draw-weight adjustment process. Finishes options are Black, Predator 3D Deception and Realtree APG.